The Inventors Behind Stuff You Use Every Day

Ever wonder where items you use everyday came from? Learn about the men and women behind these ubiquitious -- but genius -- inventions.

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From graphic design to Facebook to first-person shooters, there's one piece of hardware we couldn't do without. Douglas Engelbart took us beyond the keyboard and command line when he invented the computer mouse. Watch this video about Douglas Engelbart and the computer mouse to learn more.

Willis Carrier devised air conditioning to control the heat and humidity in a newspaper printing facility, where changes in temperature were causing the ink to run. Learn how his device worked in this video about Willis Carrier and air conditioning.

Chemist Harry Coover and his team discovered superglue on accident - after a chemical compound they were researching caused expensive equipment to stick together. Learn about the adhesive's beginnings in this video about Harry Coover and superglue.

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Walter Hunt was a prolific inventor, but he sold the patent for his most famous invention for only $400. If only he had known how ubiquitous it would become. Learn more in this video about Walter Hunt and the safety pin.

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Whitcomb Judson patented his clasp-locker design in 1890. Though the design wasn't perfect, it laid the foundation for the modern zipper. Learn more about its invention and evolution in this video about Whitcomb Judson and the zipper.

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While walking with his dog in the woods, George de Mestral noticed that burrs often stuck to his clothes and his dog's fur. Find out how the natural design of burrs inspired the inventor in this video about George de Mestral and Velcro.

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Earle Dickson's wife was somewhat clumsy in the kitchen. Dickson created Band-Aids as a way for her to treat her own wounds. Learn about these pre-made bandages in this video about Earle Dickson and Band-Aids.

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While working as a chemist at the Bayer company, Felix Hoffman created a stable form of a chemical compound that mimics willow bark, which was known to relieve pain. Learn about the origins of acetylsalicylic acid in this video about Felix Hoffman and aspirin.

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Before Peter Henlein introduced portable watches with balance springs, clocks were considered unreliable and time measurement varied greatly between locations. Though his designs seem crude by today's standards, they revolutionized Western civilization. Learn more in this video about Peter Henlein and watches.

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Fed up with leaky fountain pens, journalist Laszlo Biro set out to create another option. His ballpoint pens didn't catch on until pilots started using them in flight due to the new pens' superior performance at high altitudes. Learn more in this video about Laszlo Biro's ballpoint pens.

Original designs for aerosol sprays cans date to the 18th century, but it wasn't until 1931 that Erik Rotheim was able to create and patent a working device. Learn more in this video about Erik Rothheim and spray cans.